Tuesday, June 7, 2016

After wandering around Setagaya Park, I remembered there was a Snow Dome Museum in this neighborhood which I had been meaning to go to for quite a while. Today seemed like the perfect day to check it out. What I didn't know was that it is located inside the Ikejiri Institute of Design. You had to sign in to go into the building. And you will discover that the Snow Dome Museum consists of one really small room. Two rooms to be exact but you can only take pictures in the outer room. The inner room is where the world's snow domes (or snow globes if you prefer) are displayed. The ones in the outer room are made by people who participate in the workshops they hold there and are for sale as well.

The Snow Dome Museum was really easy to find. A very large snow dome is displayed outside the room. The only question I have is how to shake the really large one to see the snow.

スノードームミュージアムの部屋はすぐわかる。入口の前に大きなスノードームが展示されてます。あのでっかいやつはどうやって振るんだろう？

I think this was one of favorite designs.

僕はこのデザイン結構お気に入り。

Dude and a Beer Man! / ドｳードとビールマン！

Since I'm checked in at the Institute, I decided to go exploring and check out some of the other rooms.

ビルにチェックインしてるので、ほかの部屋も探索してみた。

There is a restaurant where you can eat. I think it was all organic too.

中に個人まりのレストランもあったし。確か全部オガーニックだ。

A notice posted on the bread making room. It says they do not sell the bread here at the Institute as their method for making the bread is quite time-consuming and they take a lot of care and use specific ingredients. However, you can order the bread on the internet.

And there was this interesting shop that had all sorts of knick-knacks on display. And the products are for sale as well.

ほかに雑貨の部屋とか、本作りの部屋などもありました。いろんなものが販売されております。

Wandering around the institute was pretty interesting. A great way to spend some time on a Sunday.

世田谷ものづくり学校って結構面白い。時間があるときに是非行ってみてください。

Another place I may have to investigate in the future.

ここも気になる。

A restaurant I would love to take my friend too on his next visit to Japan - a Nihon shu bar.

アメリカの友達がまた日本に遊びに来たらここに連れてあげたい。日本酒バル。

As I was heading back home, I decided to wander through my old neighborhood of Mishuku.

帰り道に昔住んでたところに通ってみた。僕は結婚する前に１０年間三宿に住んでました。

This was my neighborhood sento (public bathhouse). I went here many times. I also did my laundry at the coin laundry here as well after the other coin laundry room I used caught on fire. Its a mystery why I didn't bother to buy a washing machine.

The coin laundry I used almost every week. Or every other week because I was a lazy bastard!

ほぼ毎週行ったコインランドリー。

I never did figure out what this shop was but it was open when I moved here back in 1995 so its been in business for over 20 years.

これはどういう店が今でもわからないが、僕が日本に来た時から営業してるので、もう２０年以上頑張ってる店だな。

Rice Shop / 米屋

A tonkatsu shop which was only a two minute walk from my apartment but yet another place I never went to.

このとんかつの店も昔からあったが、僕が三宿に住んでたころ一度も行ったことない。

And there are a bunch of these little parks in my old neighborhood where you will come across a lot of stray cats.

こういう小さな公園もいっぱいありますね。野良猫もよく見かける。

I think I may have to do another old neighborhood walk and take more pictures of places I used to go to and see how things have changed or remained the same from twenty years ago. Heck, even my immediate neighborhood has changed in the ten years I've been here as well. Until next time.